If you want your online business to survive and thrive, you need to be having fun! At least several times each week, potential clients call me for business ideas or suggestions for "things to sell" online. They don't have a business concept or a product they believe in. They are just looking for some way to jump on online bandwagon and get their hands on supposed riches everyone else is making.

When asked this question, I tell them my story about how I got into whole Web/Internet thing in first place. Back in early 1994 when most folks hadn't heard of "online" and there were things like IRC, bulletin boards and very slow modems, I got hooked on CompuServe.

I remember telling anyone who would listen how much fun it was to use (the speed of connectivity wasn't an issue back then) and how I just knew that this technology would change business and our world forever. I got used to "deer in headlights" look that came over their faces.

Needless to say my family, friends and most of folks on block thought I was nuts! Their eyes would glaze over after 10 seconds of me trying to explain how it worked and what potential was. I didn't care, it was so much fun, I could burst! My better half at time and to this day was only one who recognized that sparkle in my eye to know that I was on to something.

So, I opened my little studio in a small rural town's downtown district in December of 1994. They didn't want me there. They thought Internet was "evil" and I was about hooking up children with pedophiles, credit card fraud and creating adult Web sites. But I didn't care - I was having fun! You name stereotype and I was confronted with it. Regardless of resistance I couldn't wait to get up and get to office and enjoy each moment of every day.

Even if it meant dealing with those who would stop by with comments such as "you really think this fad is going to last?" To which I would reply "Fad? I'll catch you in 10 years when this technology has changed world as you know it!" The time flew by and each day was a blur. My better half would have to give me a call around 7-8pm reminding me it was time to come home.

There is only one real difference, aside that one buys at wholesale prices and other at retail prices, and that is that wholesale buyers are looking for a selection of items to fill a space or their customers' needs, while retail buyers are looking for one item to fill a space or need. When there isn't any space that needs filling either now or in future, customer won't be interested in what you have for sale, which means zero sales.

Both wholesale and retail buyers are looking for things that can be either complementary or in contrast to what are doing or they already have. It is rather a combination of two (contrast/complementary or complementary/contrast) than a case of complementary or contrast.

Contrast/complementary means it's different to what they are doing or they have, but will fit in with other things, while complementary/contrast means it's like what they are doing or already have and yet it's different. If there is a high contrast and it doesn't fit in or if it's exactly what they have, they most likely won't buy.